Safety razor, hone strap, and container



Get. 13, 1936. KAUFMANN 2,057,530

SAFETY RAZOR, HONE STRAP, AND CONTAINER Filed A ri; 6, 1931 sSheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Harry H. Kaufman BY may; flflz'q7 fluab MATTORNEYS.

Oct. 13, 1936. H, A K N 2,057,530

SAFETY RAZOR, HONE STRAP, AND CONTAINER Filed April 6, 1931 3Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS,

Oct. 13, 1936.

H. A. KAUFMANN 2,057,530 SAFETY RAZOR, HONE STRAP, AND CONTAINER FiledApril 6, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 7 7 A m L- liar/[11111111111104 INVENTORPatented Oct. 13, 1936 PATENT orFicE SAFETY RAZOR, HONE STRAP; AND

1 CONTAINER Harry A. Kaufmann, Highland Park, vMich. Applicati0n April6,1931, Serial'No. 527,892

7 Claims.

My invention relates to razors and particularly to a safety razor and toa container'therefor which embodies a hone and a stropping mechanism formaintaining a sharp edge on the razor 5 blade.

In practicing my invention, I employ a box like kit or container forenclosing a razor and provide a hone and a stropping device within thecontainer which requires only a slight increase in the size of thecontainer over that for encas ing the razor alone. By providing acontainer or kit for a razor in which both a hone and stroppingmechanism is embodied, I am able to supply blade to the razor which maybe of the nonrenewal type and which is capable of being honed and thenstropped by any one unskilled in the razor honing and stropping art. Therazor is so constructed that it provides the means for holding the bladefor shaving, for stropping and also for honing.

Accordingly, one object of my invention is to provide a razor with ablade which is capable of being supported in any of three distinctpositions, one for shaving, one for stropping, and one for honing.

Another object of my invention is to provide a safety razor in which theblade is of the nonrenewal type, being capable of being honed andstropped when supported by the frame employed for shaving. 1 I V Afurther object of my invention'is to provide a container for a safetyrazor of the above mentioned type, having means for honing and stroppingthe blade of the razor that is enclosed within the container.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a pair of rolls forstropping a razor ofthe above described type which are movable laterallyand angularly and are rotatable relatively to each other.

A further object of my invention is to provide an adjustable retainingmeans for the razor which supports the razor within the container,

both in its shaving and stropping position, the adjustment beingprovided to regulate the positionof the blade edge relative to thestropping elements. I V

A still further object of my invention is to provide a handle forrotating the rolls of the stropping mechanism which is supported withinthe roll and which is movable a small distance l'aterally thereof topermit 'the"engagement between" the handle and a pronged member formoving the roll in a single predetermined direction.

; A still further object of my invention is to,

provide a retaining means for the cover of the base member of my kitwhich is releasably engageable with the cover and provided with openingsby means of which the kit is ventilated.

- Numerous other objects and features of novelty 5 of my invention willbe either specifically pointed out or will become apparent whenreferring, for a better understanding of my invention, to the followingdescription in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a razor embodying features of myinvention with the blade thereof in shaving position,

Figure 2 is a broken view of the structure shown in Figure 1, with theblade in stropping position, i J

Figure 3 is a broken view of the structure shown in Figure 1, with theblade in honing position,

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the structure shown in Figure 1, takenalong the line 4-4 thereof,

Figure 5 is a'sectional view of the structure shown in Figure 2, takenalong the line 5-5 thereof, 7

Figure 6 is an exploded view, in perspective, of the elements which goto make up my razor shown in Figure 1,

Figure '7 is a bottom view in perspective of the container employed forenclosing my razor,

Figure 8 is a top plan View of the bottom of the container showing therazor holding and stropping mechanism with the stropping element inlongitudinal extending relation,

Figure 9 is a broken side view of the structure shown in Figure '7,illustrating the position of the razor and the stropping device inreverse relation with the cover.

Figure 10 is a broken view of the structure shown in Figure l, with thestropping elements in vertical relation to each other and with thehandle in outwardly biased aotuatable position,

Figure 11 is a side view of the structure shown in Figure 9,illustrating the relation of my razor to the stropping elements.

Figure 12 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure shown in Figure11, taken along the line l2,-l2 thereof, 1

Figure 13 is a sectional view of .the structure shownv in Figure 12,taken along the line l3- -l3 thereof,

Figure 14 is a sectional view of the structure shown in Figure 13, takenalong the line I l-l4 thereof;

'Figure 15 is a sectional'view of the structure 55' shown in Figure 14taken along the line |5--|5 thereof,

Figure 16 is a broken view similar to the structure shown in Figure 9,illustrating a modified form of my invention, and

Figure 17 is a sectional view of the cover of my box and of a razorbeing honed on a honing element provided therein.

Referring to Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, I have shown my razor l9 ascomprising five parts, a handle 20, a clamping member 2|, a supportingframe 22, a guard 23, and a blade 24 all of which will now be describedin detail.

The guard 23 includes a cylindrical body portion 25, from which aplurality of teeth-like members 26 extend downwardly and are curvedoutwardly and provided with upstanding projections 21 on the end teeth,against the front surface of which the cutting edge of the blade abutswhen.

mounted in shaving position on the holder; A stud 29 projects mediallyof the cylindrical portion 25, which is engaged by threads-3| providedin the small end of the handle 20. A pair of upstanding tongues 32 aremounted on the projections 27 for engaging the end of the blade andpermitting a predetermined amount of movement of the blade therewith.

The supporting frame 22 comprises a central body portion 34, which is ofarcuate shape conforming to the shape of the cylindrical portion 25 ofthe guard 23. The central part of the body portion 34 extends beyond asemicylindrical shape for the purpose of permitting the holder to besnapped over the cylindrical portion 25 and to be retained thereon bythe spring engagement of the body portion therewith. A slot 35 isprovided medially of the body portion, through which the stud 29 extendsand which permits a predetermined amount of rocking movement of theholder relative to the guard.

An arm 36 extends frontwa'rdly of the body portion 34 at each of itsends, the outer ends of which are provided with a pair of inwardlyprojecting pins 31 for the purpose of engaging and supporting the razorblade 24. The inwardly projecting portions of the pins are conicalshaped and are provided with a rearwardly projecting shank portion ofreduced dimension which is pressed into the arms 36 for retaining thepins on the arms.

The blade 24 is provided with a cutting edge 45 and a back portion 4| ofa thickness conforming to the taper at the; cutting edge. The blade issubstantially a section of a. standard or straight razor-employed bybarbers and is sharpened in the same manner, that is to say, by drawingthe blade across a hone with the cutting edge disposed in the directionof motion frontwardly of theback portion 4|. The back portion 4| is ofsuch thickness as to slope the blade relative to the stone and retainthe sides of the cutting edge fiat on the honing surface. I

A pair of recesses 42 and 43 are provided in the sides of the bladenear,,the .,back portion which are interconnected by a slot 44. The pins31 engage the rearmost recess 42, on the body portion of the inwardlyprojecting cones, for supporting the blade in either shaving orstropping position on the holder. When the blade is to be honed, it isforced backwardly on the pins which slide frontwardly in the slot 44until the points of the-pins register against the bottom of the recess43 to-efiect a pivotal engagement to permit the blade to swing freely inthe holder.

The recesses 43 are positioned frontward y from the back portion 4| ofthe blade a sufiicient distance to be frontwardly of the center ofgravity of the blade to provide a preponderance of weight toward theback portion 4| in order that the blade will, of its own weight, swingon the pins 37 to have the back portion 4| extend downwardly from theholder 22 as shown in Figure 3 and in dot and dash line in Figure 17. Inthis position the blade is ready to be honed in a manner which will bedescribed more fully hereinafter.

When the blade is assembled in the holder, as shown in Figure 1, for thepurpose of shaving, the blade is first adjusted relative to the guard23, to advance or withdraw the blade from the end of the guard forpositioning the cutting edge of the blade to. suit the individualoperator. That is to say, some operators prefer to have the handledisposed normally to the face while others prefer to hold it in angularrelation thereto, the various conditions being compensated for by theadjustment of the cutting edge of the blade relative to the end of theguard 23. A further advantage of the adjustment is to regulate thedegree of closeness with which my razor is capable of shaving,

for a very close shave the blade is advanced toward the end of theguard. By having the handle 29. of the razor tapering toward the rearend, its center of gravity is close to the end, which permits the razorto stand up on the handle in stable position.

When the blade is to be stropped, the handle is loosened on the stud 29and the holder 22 is rotated relative to the guard 23, to permit thecutting edge of the blade to clear the tongues 32 in order that theblade may be swung into extended position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5,about the pins 31. The handle is then screwed upon the stud 29 to forcethe clamping element 2| against the holder 22 which is forced into firmengagement with the guard 23. The method of stropping my blade will bedescribed more fully hereinafter.

Referring to Figure 7, I have shown a container 48 in closed carryingposition with the razor 25, the hone and the stropping device enclosedwithin the container. The container 48 comprises a fiat base member 49and a cover 50 which extends over the base member and is retained infixed position thereon by suitable clamping means 5|.

Each end of the base member 49 is provided with an arcuate opening 52,across the outer ends of which a pin 53 extends. The pins are engaged bysuitable spring clips 54 which are retained on the inner surface of thecover 50 by means of rivets 55 or any other suitable securing means. Theopenings 52 ventilate the container and permit the insertion of a fingerto release a spring clip 54 to permit the cover to be removed from thebase member.

A shoulder 51 is provided along the inner surface of the cover at adepth substantially equal to the thickness of the base member 49 againstwhich the base member abuts when in either closed orstropping positionas shown in Figs. 9 and 11. I have illustrated in Fig. 9 the base inreverse position on the cover 50, with the razor and the stroppingdevice in position to be enclosed thereby.

A razor retaining member 69 is provided on the inner surface of the basemember 49 for supporting the razor in carrying and in stroppingposition. The member is provided with a pair of upstanding arms 6|,having inturned flanges 62 thereon for the purpose of engaging the rearend of the handle of the razor which CIL is' -sna'pped against thebottom portion of the holder below the upper end of the upstandingmember. The frontward end of the retaining member '60 is provided withan upstanding rearwardly curved spring portion 63, the upper end ofwhich engages the inner portion of the guard when the blade is inshaving position on the holder, as shown in Fig. 9. The member 60 iswidened at 6 for the purpose of having the outer edge of the wideportion engage the inner edge of the arms 36 to prevent a lateralmovement of the razor relative to the holder.

- Recesses 65 are provided along the edges of the portion 64 to permitthe arms 36 to extend therein, in order that the member 63 may engagethe inner portion of the guard 23, above the center line through thehandle. In this construction, both the upstanding members 62 and themember 53 effect a downward bias to the razor to retain it against theholding member 68. The razor is shown in dot and dash line in Fig. 9 tobe retained in the above manner firmly on the base member againstlongitudinal or lateral movement.

- When the razor is to be supported for stropping, the blade is swung inextended position as shown in Fig. 2 and the upstanding portions 21 ofend teeth 26 engage the underside of the member 63 as shown in Fig. 11,and the rearmost end of the handle 20 of the razor is snapped within theupstanding member 6! as shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

To permit the longitudinal adjustment of the razor relative to thestropping member, a pair i of slots 5? are provided in the member 60,and

a pair of large headed screws 63 extend through theslot into the basemember 39 for the purpose of retaining the holding member in fixedposition thereon. Slots 69 are provided in the screws 68 of a widthsufficient to receive a coin, which is a ready means usually at hand topermit the screws to be loosened and longitudinal adjustment of theholder made relative to the base and stropping members.

For stropping the blade I provide a stropping mechanism '50 whichcomprises a pair of rolls II and I2 which are actuated by a handle 99 tooperate in opposite directions through the medium of a pair of gears Ii. The construction of the stropping mechanism I is shown more clearlyin the enlarged views I2, I3, I l, and I5.

The rolls 'EI and M are built up on a plurality of tubes in thefollowing manner. A helical spring I is made of flat material which isspaced apart a-distance equal to the thickness of the stropping materiali6 which extends therebetween. The stropping material is preferably madeof leather and is provided in a strip of inverted T-shape, the flangesof the material extending inwardly of the spring I5. After a strip ofmaterial I5 is wound between the turns of the spring I5, a collapsiblecylinder 18 is then inserted within the hollow interior of the assemblyand is spread outwardly until the overlapping portions abut each otherto comprise a complete cylinder which forces the material it firmlyagainst he inner surface of the spring. A tubular member 80 is thenpressed within the split tube I8 to provide a body portion for the roll,and a tube 81 is then pressed within the tube 80, the ends of the tube85 being shouldered at 82, for a purpose which will be explained morefully hereinafter.

A gear 8 is pressed on one end of the tube 0i, having a flange 85thereon for increasing the frictional engagement between the gear andthe tube, for retaining the gear in predetermined relation with thestropping element IS. The double row of teeth 86 are provided on thegear as shown in Figure 14, which are displaced one half of a pitch fromthe adjacent row of teeth, for the purpose of permitting a maximumlateral movement of the gears away from each other, without permittingthe teeth to unmesh relatively to each other.

On the opposite end of the roll I2, a small washer 88 is pressed ontothe tube 8|, which is in alignment with a larger ratchet member 89,which is pressed upon the shaft 8I of the lower roll II. The peripheryof the ratchet washer 89 is engaged by a finger 90, as shown in Figure13, which is forced against the ratchet by a spring QIwhich is Woundabout a pin 92 upon which the finger 90 is pivoted.

Within the tube 8|, of the roll H, I provide a notched sleeve 94, whichis pressed into firm engagement with the inner surface of the tube asshown in Figure 14. A shaft 95 extends through the sleeve 94 and isprovided with a cross pin 95 on its inner end. A spring 91 abuts againstthe end of the cross pin 95 and is retained within the tube BI by a plug98 which is pressed firmly within the end of the tube. The spring forcesthe shaft 95 outwardly, causing the pin 96 thereof to engage the notchof the sleeve 94 by means of which the roll TI is rotated by a handle99, shown in Fig. 12.

A frame I00, of inverted U-shape, is provided with a pair of aperturesI0! and a pair of slots 182, on the downwardly extending arms thereof,the apertures IiII receive the shouldered ends of the tube BI of theroll I2, which freely rotates on the frame. The slots I02 receive theshouldered ends of the tube 8! of the roll I! which permits the rotationof the roll relative to the frame and the longitudinal movement of theframe relative to the tube. The slot I02 is of such length that thelateral movement of the frame on the tube is limited to such a distancethat the teeth 86 of the gears will be prevented from clearing eachother and change the relation of the rolls relative to each other.

A suitable spring Ili i is provided over the ends of the tubes 8|,adjacent to the washers 88 and 89 and within the frame 5&0. for thepurpose of forcing one end of the rolls toward each other. A similarspring i00- is provided over the webs 85 of the gears 84 for the purposeof forcing the o her end of the rolls together. The springs provide aproper tension for forcing the two rolls toward each other which engagethe end of the razor blade with a predetermined pressure during thestropping operation.

A pair of L-shaped frame members I05, having apertures I (it therein areplaced over the ends of the shaft 8I of the tube II and are mounted onthe bottom member by a plurality of screws Iii? as shown in Figure '7.Notches I08 are provided in the top arcuate periphery of the framemembers 505 and projecting pins I09 are provided on the sides of theframe I 00 which register with the notches I08 when the frame I00 ismoved to a vertical position relative to the frame members I05.

After the stropping mechanism has been empioyed, the frame Q00 is firstmoved upwardly, relative to the supporting brackets I05 until the pinslii clear the notches I08, which upward movement is made possible by theslots I02 in the frame 0 The frame I00 is then revolved rearwardly intohorizontal position, which is that shown in Figures 8 and 9, after whichthe handle 99 is pushed inwardly of the roll 1| and the cover 48 may beplaced over the stropping mechanism, in engagement with the base member49.

When a razor is to be stropped, it is inserted in the holder as shown inFigure 11, with the blade resting upon the lower roll. The frame I06 isthen revolved counter-clockwise into its vertical position, during whichmovement the finger 90 engages the ratchet 89 and prevents the turningof the roll 1I counter-clockwise into the edge of the blade which wouldotherwise cause the stropping material I6 to be roughened or cut. Afterreaching its vertical position the frame I00 is drawn downwardly by thespring I04, causing the pins I09 to engage the slot I08 to retain theframe in fixed vertical relation with the bracket members I05.

The handle 90 is biased outwardly by the spring 91 until the pin 96engages the notch of the tubular member 84in which position the lowerroll may be turned in a clockwise direction. This movement istransmitted through the gears 84 to cause the counterclockwise movementof the upper roll I2, in which construction the stropping material ofboth rolls moves across the blade away from its cutting edge. Thestropping material is positioned on the roll II in such manner as to bein offset relation with that of the roll E2, to permit the flexing ofthe end of the cutting edge of the blade from one direction to the otherto thereby remove the minute rough portion thereof and to provide asmooth cutting edge.

The arm III of the handle 99 is provided with a pin like extension I I 2on its outer end, as shown in Figures 9 and 10 and a handle H3 ismounted on the pin H2, in such manner as to be capable of rotation aboutthe end of the arm I I I as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. The purpose of somounting the handle is to have it engaged and retained by the frame I00within the confines of the base member 49. In this arrangement, thehandle II 3 is revolved 180 degrees about the arm III, from a positionshown in Figure 10 and the shaft 95 is pressed inwardly within the tube8I until the arm III is flush against the outer surface of the bracketmember I05. The handle I I3 is then disposed inwardly of the frame I00,which engages the handle when moved to horizontal position, as shown inFigure 9, and retains it against the bias of the spring 9'! within theconfines of the base member 49.

In Figure 16, I have shown a clip I I which may be mounted on the sideof the bracket member I85, by any well known method, for the purpose ofreceiving the arm III and retaining it in firm relation to the bracket.Either or both methods may be employed for retaining the arm III withinthe confines of the base member 49 in order that the cover 48 may bedisposed thereover without any difiiculty. By so mounting and retainingthe handle as an integral portion of the stropping mechanism 10, I haveeliminated the possibility of the handle being lost and have reduced thenumber of parts to a minimum, there being practically only three partsto my razor kit, which comprises the razor, the base member, with therazor supporting member and stropping mechanism mounted thereon and thecover, which is provided with the honing element.

In Figure 17, I have shown the cover of the container, in invertedposition, with a honing stone III provided on the inner surface of thetop portion thereof, with my razor in position to be honed. As pointedout above the blade is so constructed that the back portion 4| thereofcauses the cutting edges to engage the stone at a proper cutting angle,and it is only necessary to move the blade backwardly and forwardlyacross the stone in order to sharpen the edge of the blade.

As the razor is moved forwardly in the direction of a cutting edge, oneside of the edge is being ground away by its passage across the stonesurface and upon reaching the end of the cover the razor is raisedpermitting the back end thereof to drop downwardly, due to thepreponderance of its weight relative to the weight of the cutting edgeof the blade. Upon a reverse movement, the back portion of the bladewill first strike the stone and cause the blade to be rotated to havethe cutting edge disposed in the direction of movement of the bladeacross the honing surface.

With my blade freely swinging on the frame 22, it is only necessary tosweep the razor back and forward across the honing stone and raising theblade at the end of each stroke a sufficient distance to permit therotation of the blade 90 degrees because of the weight of the backportion thereof. The further 90 degree motion will occur as a reversesweep of the blade across the hone takes place.

This construction eliminates the skill heretofore required in honingblades and permits anyone to sharpen a blade when supported in a, holdersimilar to that above described, as the personal element is eliminatedby the blade supporting structure. After the razor is honed the blade ispushed forwardly in the holder 22 until the pins 3'! engage the rearrecesses 42, in which position the razor is supported in the retainingmember 60 and stropped. The blade is, thereafter, swung into engagementwith the guard 23 and adjusted relative to the ends of the teeth 25 inposition for shaving.

While I have described and illustrated but a single embodiment of myinvention, it will be apparent to anyone skilled in the art that manychanges, omissions, additions and substitutions may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as set fortin the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a blade holder of a razor which includes aguard, of a handle, a blade engaging member having inwardly extendingprojections, and a blade having spaced, joined recesses in the end facesthereof which are engageable by said projections as the blade is shiftedin the member.

2. The combination with a blade holder of a razor which includes aguard,of a handle, a. blade engaging member having inwardly extendingprojections, and a blade having two spaced recesses of different depthsprovided in the end faces thereof which are engageable by saidprojections for supporting said blade in shaving and honing positionsrespectively.

3. The combination with a blade holder of a razor which includes aguard, of a handle, a blade engaging member having inwardly extendingprojections, and a blade having spaced, joined recesses in the end facesthereof which are engageable by said projections to permit the blade tobe shifted on the projections from a'stropping to a honing position. 7

4. The combination with a blade holder of a razor whichincludes a guard,of a handle, a blade engaging member, having inwardly extendingprojections upon which the blade is swingably supported, and a bladehaving recesses in the end faces thereof positioned between the centerof gravity and the cutting edge of the blade and between the center ofgravity and the opposite edge of said blade and engageable by saidprojections.

5. The combination with a blade holder of a razor which includes aguard, of a handle, a blade engaging member having inwardly extendingconical projections, and a blade having oppositely disposed recesses inits end faces between its center of gravity and the cutting edge andbetween the center of gravity and the opposite edge and engageable bythe points of said projections.

6. A safety razor including, in combination, a guard, a blade supportingmember, a handle retaining said guard and a blade in fixed relationship,a blade having a thick edge on one side tapering to a cutting edge onthe opposite side, the end faces of said blade in the thick portionthereof being provided with recesses, inwardly presenting projections onsaid member engaging said recesses to support the thick edge of saidblade, and means on said guard for retaining the cutting edge of theblade relative thereto.

7. A safety razor including, in combination, a guard, a blade supportingmember, a blade having a thick edge tapering to a cutting edge, the endfaces of said blade in the thick portion thereof being provided withrecesses, the recesses being so located relative to the center ofgravity of the blade that when engaged by the blade supporting member atone pair of recesses, the thick edge of the blade will hang downwardly,and when engaged in another pair of recesses, the cutting edge of theblade will hang downwardly.

HARRY A. KAUFMANN.

